Antigua and BarbudaCitizenship by investmentLimited

UWI Fund contribution in Antigua and Barbuda

The option of funding an additional campus of the University of the West Indies grants citizenship and a passport for a minimum contribution, for a family of the set minimum size. Taking part gives one family member the right to a scholarship covering university tuition only. New citizens must take the oath of allegiance either on their first visit to the country or at a diplomatic mission. Citizenship is kept provided the minimum time is spent in the country during each period. The passport is renewable where the applicant meets the stay requirements.

Source: Citizenship by Investment Unit of Antigua and Barbuda — UWI Fund

Who the programme suits

The UWI Fund route is aimed at families seeking citizenship and educational opportunities. A minimum family size, in full, is required.

Large families

Families of six or more, already complete in number
Parents and guardians who want to widen their children's opportunities
Heads of household supporting several dependants

Investors with strategic aims

Entrepreneurs seeking diversification into an educational asset
Investors supporting higher education in the Caribbean region
Advocates of a portfolio strategy with a long horizon

When the programme will not suit you

Single applicants and couples without dependants

Consider the National Development Fund (NDF) or real estate, which accept smaller groups

Families of fewer than six people

The other investment options of the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship programme, with a lower family threshold

Citizens at high risk of being unable to visit the country

Programmes that require no periodic presence or have more flexible stay conditions

What it costs

Contribution to the UWI Fund (family of 6)Includes the processing fees; a minimum of six family members is required	260 000 USD
Additional dependant (each beyond the 7th member)Applies to each family member beyond seven	10 000 USD
Eligibility check (applicant)Paid on filing; not refunded on refusal	+8 500 USD
Eligibility check (spouse)Paid on filing; not refunded on refusal	+5 000 USD
Passport fees (per person)Paid after approval; multiply by the number of family members	+300 USD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Eligibility check (applicant)” adds 8 500 USD; “Eligibility check (spouse)” adds 5 000 USD; “Passport fees (per person)” adds 300 USD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	270,000–283 800 USD

Paid separately

The agent's advice — Licensed representatives' fees are calculated separately
Paperwork costs — Notarisation, apostilles and other local charges are paid by the applicant

Documents to gather

The set of documents is gathered through a licensed agent and filed in the prescribed manner.

Form AB1 (Citizenship by Investment Application)
Form AB2 (Photograph and Signature Certificate)
Form AB3 (Medical Certificate)
Form AB4 (Investment Confirmation Form)
Form AB5 (Agent Form)
The passport application forms
Police certificates from every country of residence over the last ten years
Certified and apostilled documents evidencing identity and marital status

How the process runs

Processing is divided into several key stages with clear timings.

1
Choosing and signing up with a licensed agent
Find one of the programme's authorised representatives, who will help to organise the filing and provide you with the necessary forms AB1–AB5.
2
Filing the application and the initial payments
Submit the complete set of documents through the agent to the Citizenship Investment Unit. At the same time pay the eligibility check fees for the applicant and their spouse in line with the published schedule.
3
Biographical and background checks
The checks cover analysis of the police certificates, travel history, the origin of the funds and any convictions. Further documents may be requested or interviews arranged at this stage.
4
Receiving the letter of approval
Once the checks are passed you receive a letter of approval from the Citizenship Investment Unit. It sets out the contribution to the fund and the passport fees, which must be paid within thirty days.
5
Paying the contribution and the passport fees
Within thirty days of receiving approval, pay the full contribution to the UWI Fund and the passport fees for each family member in line with the published schedule.
6
Issue of the certificates of citizenship
Once the payments are confirmed, the Citizenship Investment Unit issues certificates of registration of citizenship to the main applicant and the family members, which are needed to apply for passports.
7
Taking the oath of allegiance
New citizens must make a solemn affirmation or take an oath of allegiance to Antigua and Barbuda. This may be done on the first visit to the country or at the nearest diplomatic mission.
8
Receiving the passports
Once all the earlier stages are complete and the oath has been taken, every family member receives a passport of Antigua and Barbuda.

Timelines and rights

Work

Work permits from the labour department are for non-citizens. The requirement does not apply to a citizen.

Who you can bring with you

The programme is built for families and covers the various categories of family member who may be included in the application.

Main applicant

Must be aged 18 and over, meet the eligibility criteria and have no convictions for the offences listed in the programme.

Spouse

The main applicant's current spouse may be included. A future spouse may be included on payment of an additional contribution of fifty thousand dollars.

Biological or adopted children

Children aged from nought to thirty who are financially dependent on the main applicant are included in the application. Children over eighteen with a physical or mental disability who live with the applicant and are wholly supported by them may also be included.

Parents and grandparents

Parents or grandparents aged fifty-five and over who are financially dependent on the applicant may be added as dependants, provided the financial dependency is proved.

Unmarried brothers and sisters

Unmarried brothers and sisters of the main applicant or their spouse may be included provided they are financially dependent and meet the age criteria.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

After citizenship you must spend 5 days in the country over 5 calendar years. Those who do not are deprived of citizenship, and the money invested is not returned.

The passport remains valid for five calendar years from the date of issue. Renewal is considered on the basis of the stay requirement: the citizen must spend at least five days in total in Antigua and Barbuda during the five-year period since citizenship was granted. Where the stay condition is not met, citizenship may be lost, and the return of the contributions is not guaranteed. Citizens wishing to renew a passport should contact the Citizenship Investment Unit for instructions on the renewal procedure.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The programme has no intermediate permanent residence stage: on approval certificates of citizenship are issued for the whole family.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship and a passport, plus a one-year scholarship for one family member to study at the University of the West Indies (tuition only is covered)

Frequently asked questions about UWI Fund contribution

Can a single person or a couple apply under the UWI Fund route?

No. The UWI Fund route requires a family of at least six people to apply. Single applicants and couples may consider other investment options, such as the National Development Fund (NDF), which accepts smaller groups.

How long does the application take to process?

The website does not officially state an exact processing time. The process covers eligibility checks, background checks and possible interviews, which may take varying amounts of time depending on how complex your profile is and how complete the documents are. It is advisable to contact a licensed agent for an approximate timeline.

What happens if I do not spend the required time in the country after citizenship is granted?

Citizenship may be lost by deprivation if you do not spend at least five days in total in Antigua and Barbuda during each five-year period after citizenship is granted. Where citizenship is withdrawn, the contributions are not returned. It is important to plan periodic visits to the country in order to keep the status.

How large is the scholarship one family member receives at the University of the West Indies?

The programme gives one family member a one-year scholarship covering tuition at the University of the West Indies only. The scholarship matches the full cost of tuition, but does not cover other costs such as accommodation, meals or study materials.

Other ways to move to Antigua and Barbuda

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Antigua and Barbuda.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.